Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid, in which the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
When the thyroid gland is overactive, it overstimulates metabolism and aggravates the effect of the sympathetic nervous system, causing the body’s processes to speed up.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Irritability
- Heart palpitations
- Hand tremors
- Excessive sweating and heat intolerance, in which the skin is continuously flushed, warm, soft, and moist (however, elderly patients may report dry skin with itching)
- Tachycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Elevated systolic blood pressure
- Hyperactivity
- Insomnia
- Increased metabolic rate
- Increased frequency of bowel movements
- Weight loss, despite increased appetite
- Osteoporosis and fracture
- Fine, brittle hair with hair loss
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Fatigue
- Light or infrequent menstrual cycles
- Problems with fertility
A goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) may also develop.
The course of the disease may be mild or may progress continuously if untreated, leading to emaciation, intense nervousness, delirium, disorientation, and eventually heart failure.
Thyroid Storm
A severe manifestation of hyperthyroidism is called a thyroid storm, usually seen in a patient with Graves’ disease. It is a medical emergency manifested by a severe increase in metabolism. usually precipitated by a major stressor such as infection, trauma, or surgery. It can also occur when a patient is inadequately treated or stops taking prescribed therapy.
Signs and symptoms include:
- Elevated temperature
- Increased tachycardia or onset of dysrhythmias
- Elevated blood pressure
- Worsening tremors and restlessness
- Worsening mental status (delirious, psychotic state, or coma)
Patients are managed in a critical care unit with focused care on lowering the metabolic rate as fast as possible and managing their cardiovascular status and hyperthermia.
Remember: Hyperthyroidism is an increase in the body’s production of thyroid hormones. This causes an increase in metabolism, causing the signs and symptoms that we’ve disucssed today.
Thank you for watching this video tutorial on the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism!
